Method and means for beveling and shaping ship framework



. 2, 1947 B. F. THOMPSON METHOD AND MEANS FOR BEVELING AND SHAPING SHIP FRAMEWORK Filed June 27, 1944 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Bry'am in" FT/wmpson:

Dec. 2, 1947. B, F, o pso 2,431,971

METHOD AND MEANS FOR BEVELING AND SHAPING SHIP FRAMEWORK Filea June '27, 2944 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 Q Q N a N a Q R W a Ben 'am L'nFTl w, npson Patented Dec. 2, 1947 METHOD AND MEANS FOR BEVELING AND SHAPING SHIP FRAMEWORK Benjamin F. Thompson, Jacksonville, Fla., assignor of one-half to Arthur Lutzen, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application June 27, 1944, Serial No. 542,367

(Cl. Hit-28) Claims. 1

This invention relates to a treating device for flanged frame members. The primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanism and complemental method of shaping, and in instances beveling, the flange of a preformed beam, girder or the like having a web and oflset flange or flanges customarily present, for example, in beams of U shape cross-section, in the use of which, dependent upon the purpose for which it is intended, it is necessary or desirable that the flange portion be variously disposed to the web or base portion in order to conform to the shape or contour of the member, as a wall, supported or braced by the beam.

Specifically, the invention finds an important field of usefulness, and performance beneficial in the making of framework structures for the hulls of boats, and will be equally serviceable in other connections, wherein the hull or structure to be supported or braced has a change in contour, as the longitudinal tapering or contouring of the hull fore and aft, as well as the curving of the wall in a general vertical direction from the keel into the sides of the boat.

In meeting the conditions related, and effecting a close fit of the framework with the superposed hull structure, the adjoining flange of the beams of the framework must be disposed at varying angular relationships to the web of the beam and heretofore a practice has been to manipulate a finished beam to change the angularity of the flange relative to the web to first bodily bend the beam to obtain the general contour thereof longitudinally and then by the employment of hammers and flatters to change the angularity of the flange, and bevel the flange, When desired, in a cold state of the metal of the beam. This has proven to be an undesirable method because of the time consumed, the added difiiculty of bending the flange to give it the desired angular position after the general curving of the beam as a whole, because of the delays and cooling of the beam being treated and because the hammering is a relatively crude and tedious performance.

Having in mind, as an example, that it has been found in practice in shipbuilding that the angularity of the flange of the beam will vary possibly as much as in a piece of channel or angle iron of approximately 30 foot length, the desirability of a mechanism to accomplish the result in connection with the beam immediately as it comes from a preheater so that the completed work may be accomplished with minimum manual help or labor, in approximately 8 to 10 seconds for a 30 foot beam or frame member, the

accomplishments of the present invention are emphasized and appreciated.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be clear when read in connection with the specific description hereinafter contained.

Such embodiment embraces the utilization of a suitable base member over which the flange beam may be passed as delivered from a preheater, and means operatively associated with said base comprising a pair of deflecting rollers, through which the flange to be treated may pass, adjusting means for the rollers to approximately axially dispose the same whereby to bend or treat the flange as it moves across said base combined with a manually adjustable presser roll for holding the opposite flange or edge portion of the beam towards the base as determined by varying degrees of pressure controlled by the operator.

The combination preferably has provision in connection with the bending rolls for also effecting a tapering of the flange transversely thereof When desired. The arrangement of the pair of bending or beveling rolls and the pressure or holding roll is such that as the manual pressure on the latter varies to hold the web of the beam flat against the base or permit the same to rise, as in tilting the edge of the beam remote from the shaping rolls upwardly from the base under the influence of the shaping rolls, the flange of the beam being treated will consequently vary, as controlled, in its angular relation to the web of the beam throughout the length of the beam.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of the machine (right end of Fig. 1).

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the shaping and beveling rolls, and associated parts mounting the same with a U-shaped beam in operating position.

Figure 6 is a diagonal elevation illustrating different positions assumed by a U-beam under treatment.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which the same reference numerals will be identical parts throughout said drawings til represents a metal base plate of substantial thickness and width to give the same the strength and rigidity required, the same as is true of the other parts of the apparatus-said plate being of substantial width to permit proper passage and support of a beam to be treated thereover, and also elongated sufficiently to accommodate the shaping or beveling mechanism. This plate Ill is intended to be supported on the floor surface in juxtaposition to and parallel with the front or discharge end of a heating oven or furnace from which the beam is immediately withdrawn and passed over the base plate transversely of the latter. Th plate is firmly anchored to the floor, customarily of perforated iron plates, by appropriate fastening means, such as spikes I-l, embedded in the floor and engaging the edges of the plate, the latter having upstanding rods or standards 12 looped at their upper ends t3 and extended from the opposite ends of the plate for convenient grasping in carrying and positioning the machine in proper position when disposing the same for anchoring or removal with reference to the floor.

The treating mechanism, mounted on and can ried by the base plate, comprises two operatively related sections, one arranged near one end of the supporting bed ,01 .plate l6 and the other near the opposite endof said plate and suitably spaced apart to provide for the passagetherebetween of thebeam'under treatment, one of these sections denoted M and the other 15. The section [4 is ameans for creating a desirable degree of depression orpressure on the near edge or flange of the beamlfi'being treated to determine .the de ree of .hold of said beam in flat condition against thebed plate if), or thedegree of lateral tilt of the web of thebeam upwardly out of parallel relationship of the web with the surface of-thebed plate under the influence of operating rolls of the section l5, which is the shaping or beveling section.

The shaping or beveling section l5 comprises a carrier head or block 11 of rectangular cross section to provide vertical parallel sides 18, adapt- ,ed to work between corresponding surfaces 59, of supporting and guiding brackets '20 and 21 integral with thebase plate 49, and suitably spaced apart to accommodate the width of the carrier head or block H which is pi oted to swingin an are within avertical plane upon a horizontal shaft 22 bridging'the space between the uprights 2i! and 21 (and engaging therewith at its ends, with the intermediateportionthereof passing through the :block .17 and thereby affording the instrumenstality whereby said block may turnfor the arcuare adjustment referred'to.

Mounted free for rotatable'support by the block I"! are a pair of cooperating flange-bending or beveling rollers 23 and 25, :mounted on vertical rotatable shafts T25 and 26, passing through the carrier block I! and having suitable bushings or -.washers 2"! and 28 (brass or the like) atthe top of the block I! and also at the-bottom thereof between the bottom surface and the ,upper surface of the rolls 23 and 24. Suitable nuts 2.9 and -3.fl are engaged with the'shafts 'zfi andifi respeci'tivelyltohold the shaft 25 in position against :dropping from the block l'Lpins 3| and 32 pass ing through the appropriate apertures'transverse- -ly' of the shafts:25 and 26 and projecting to over- :lie'thenuts and fit in recessessli andS l-of them,

to interlock the shaft nut and roller together for rotative movement within and against the bushings. Theidea of providing the series or" apertures as 3.5, referred to, is to enable shafts and rollers or different length or size to be mounted in the block alternatively as working conditions demand. When rocking the-block l? and rollers carried thereby to its various predeterminedaddusted positions, fastening means $01? fi ing thesame are utilized, the same being in the nature of binding screws 36 having engagement with threaded portions 31 in the uprights l9 and 2? the binding screws 36 passing through comple mental threaded openings in said uprights and at their ends impinging upon the side faces if: of the block to thereby-bind the block and parts carried thereby against movement around the axis of the said block or laterally of said axis. vAt times, incident to extraordinary heavy work, a pair .of these binding screws 38 may be used ateachside, although usually one only will be sufiicient. The bed or base plate l6 has an elongated slot 38 .t-herethrough to accommodate the 'lowerendsof the rolls 23 and 24 when in their lowermost or inoperative position, or the lower end portion of the roll 23 when the feeding of the roll 24 at the inner side of the flange of the beam to bend the same is not required to be sufficiently high for the complcmental or backing roll 2 3 to escape said slot.

,Fro m so much of the description already given, it willbe understood that a heated flange beam introduced with one edge of the beam between the rolls 23 and 24, and gripped at the protruding end of the flange, .as by gripping tongs orother instrument, may be drawn through the rolls -25 and 2,4,' and dependent upon the angularity thereof, with reference to the web of the beam-and the positionof theweb with reference to the surface of thejb se plate 10, the angle of the nangejma be reshaped prthe flange deflected from its originallpreformed condition, as may be desired. Assuming the web to occupy a per fectly flat or parallel position relative to the bed orbase plate It] vorlpermitted to rise under the bending force of the rollers .23 and v 2t, a regulated pressure is applied to the other or remote edge of the web to firmly hold the same in a position to determine theinstant degree of angularity f-the flange of the beam being treated relative torthe web of the beam. This is accomplished, as stated, through the instrumentality of the section Id of the machine, which comprises primarily a holding roller ,39 of substantial length (adapted to bear upon that fiange or edge of the hea ingnde treatme t b th Section This rollis rotatable on a generally horizontal axis, being sleeved 141 9 and rotatable with reference to an axle :40 on which latter the roller 39 is endwiseadjustable through the medium of apsertures .4! transversely of the shaft, and pins 42, engaging therewith at the opposite ends of the-roller 39. This roller is provided, if desired, with bushings or washers -.4 2' and grooved nut members 42 for the reception of the pins after :the mountings ofthe engagements of the rollers :23 and 2A, hereinbetore described. The axle 40 is extended at its inner end to constitute one end 43 pf a toggle lever, the operating end of which is shown at 44. The toggle lever is arranged to swing upwardly and downwardly between uprights and 45, generally in line with the uprights 20 and f2 of the forming section J5 Of the machine, and the cooperating members of the lever are joined together through the -medium of a pivotal connection 47, the respective members 43-3 and ,44 ,being in turn mounted and supported'by the uprights 45 and. 45, through the medi.um of couplings 9-7 and Q8 of a length to bear against the inner faces 49 and 58' of the upri hts .5 .andfi tand e c a a lon itudinal passagewayi I, 5 2 longitudinally therethrough for the reception .of {the lever members 33 and -44. ,c rlill members-i1 a 4. a s have transverse passages 53 and 54 therethrough in li e with interiorly threaded portions 55 and 56, in the uprights 45 and 46. Stub pintles 51 are threaded into the complementary threaded portions 55, of the uprights 45 and 46, and have smooth inner end portions 58 to constitute pivots engaging the transverse passage 53, of the coupling 48, but of a length not to bind the lever portion 44 whereby the latter may slip longitudinally of the coupling 48 to allow for the shortening and lengthening of the toggle in its up-anddown movements. The other coupling member 41 is also provided with a pair of like stub pintles 59 to afiord similar pivot bearings for the lever member 43, but in this instance the coupling 4'? is held to the lever member 43 by a binding pin or screw 60 fixing the coupling to the lever member 43. While the lever member 44 may adjustably slide through its coupling, the lever member 43 and its coupling are held together against relative movement.

The pairs of uprights 20, 2| and 45, 45 may be reinforced, as desired, or found expedient, a convenient 'and efiicient means being angular braces 6| and 62 integral with the uprights and bed plate 10.

Inclined planes 63 may be formed with or adjoin the bed plate 10 to facilitate the riding of a beam to be treated up onto the surface of the bed plate thereby preventing the catching of the end of the beam on the edge of the plate as the beam is threaded into the machine.

The U, L, I or other beam of flange cross-section, being drawn, preferably at a heat to facilitate bending, between the rolls 23 and 24, the latter having been first adjusted in the predetermined axial inclination with reference to the base, and the web of the beam being held against the base, the rolls 23 and 24 will bend the flange of the beam relative to the web thereof to create the desired angular relationship. All that is necessary is to manually press or relatively decrease pressure on the lever 44 which, on the one hand hold the web of the beam flat against the bed plate or on the other hand lessen such hold and permit the outer edge of the beam to rise under the force of the bending operation of the rolls 23 and 25 to the degree or extent desired in decreasing or increasing the angle between the web and the flange, as the flange beam passes along through the shaping or beveling rolls. To bevel or taper the flange of the beam throughout the width thereof, that is, from the web of the beam to the free edge of the flange, the roll 24 may be increased in diameter in an upward direction so that the space between the rolls 23 and 24 is widest at the lower ends of the roll and tapers up t a relatively fine edge as compared to the juncture of the flange with the web of the beam and this tapering or beveling of the flange may be accomplished simultaneously with the varying angular positioning of the flange relative to the web of the beam as the requirements for the use of the beam dictate, through the travel of the beam through the machine. The apparatus herein set forth is, as first brought out in this specification, one of great rapidity in action while clearly efiicient in result.

It is believed that this machine, in addition to the considerations of details pointed out herein, is fundamentally the first wherein deflecting or bending rolls have been suggested in connection with an opposing lever-actuated presser roller, to engage that end of a flange or portion of a beam not being bent, whereby, dependent upon theforce applied to the lever, said roller may hold the beam flat on the base or permit the same to tilt upwardly to various extents, as influenced by the action of the bending rolls so that the angularity or degree of bend of the flange being treated may be in varying degrees to meet the varying conditions of service desired.

Of course, any convenient method of lubricating, and cooling the forming rolls may be resorted to, but for purpose of illustration I have shown the head H with suitable nipples or admission ports 64 for the accommodation of grease guns or the like, the interior of the block I? being hollow and in communication with said ports and adapt ed to receive lubricant to surround the shafts 25 and 26 of the rolls 23 and 24 for the purpose stated.

It will also be appreciated that bodily bending or curving of the beam may follow immediately upon the work of my machine thereon in the angular forming or positioning or beveling of the flange. While still in the heated state, and before it has a chance to objectionably cool, the beam under treatment may ass straight through the machine and remain bodily straight or upon passage from the shaping, deflecting or beveling rolls, by manipulation or lateral bending attain a general curvature of the beam wanted.

Finally, in the working of my machine and method an important factor in the operation is that through the medium of the holding or presser lever on the outer edge of the beam cooperating with the deflecting or beveling rolls, in the combination hereinabove outlined, every change in the degree of bend or deflection of the flange of the beam being treated may be accomplished as the beam feeds through the machine without necessity of stopping the operation.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a support for a flanged beam to be treated, said support being formed and arranged to receive the web of the beam thereon to pass therealong longitudinally of the beam with its flange projected upwardly therefrom, flange treating mechanism mounted adjacent to said support adapted to angularly change the flange relative to the web of the beam as it passes through said mechanism, and a free manually adjustable pressure device operatively related to and aligned with the flange treating device in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the beam to hold under vari able manual pressure the web of the beam at a point directly opposite to the flange treating mechanism against bodily movement under the influence of the flange deflecting mechanism whereby to correspondingly vary the degree of deflection of the flange under treatment.

2. In a machine of the character described, a support for a flanged beam to be treated, said support being formed and arranged to receive the web of the beam thereon to pass therealong longitudinally of the beam with its flange projected upwardly therefrom, flange roll treating mechanism mounted adjacent to said support adapted to angularly change the flange relative to the Web of the beam as it passes through said mechanism, and a free manually adjustable roll pressure device operatively related to and aligned with the flange treating device in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the beam to hold under variable manual pressure the web of the beam at a point directly opposite to the flange roll treating mechanism against bodily movement under the influence of the flange de- .3. In a machine .of the character described, a

supporting base for the web of a flanged beam to be treated, said support being formed and arranged to receive the web of the beam thereon to pass therealong longitudinally of the beam with .its flange projected upwardly therefrom, flange treating roll mechanism mounted laterally of said support and above the same, said roll mechanism comprising a pair of parallel cooperating rolls on approximately vertical axes, means for adjust ing the rolls to have said axes angularly related to the flange of the beam whereby to deflect said flange in keeping therewith as the beam is passed through the machine, and movable means variably adjustable in a vertical direction in a plane 'at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the beam to engage that edge of the beam directly opposite to said flange treating roll mechanism with corresponding varying pressure to hold the web of the beam in desired positions with reference to said supporting base.

l. In a machine of the character described, a support for a flanged beam to be treated, flange treating mechanism mounted adjacent to said support, and an adjustable presser device operatively related to the flange treating device and adapted to engage the beam at that edge portion thereof opposite said flange, said adjustable presser device comprising a roller, and a lever'for actuating the same including an adjustable toggle connection between the engageable portion of the lever and the roller.

on the support between which the said toggle connection is mounted and supported.

6. In a machine of the character described, a support for a flanged beam to be treated, flange treating roll mechanism adjacent to said support, and a presser device operatively related to the flange treating device and adapted to engage the beam at that edge portion thereof opposite to said flange, the treating roll mechanism comprising rolls disposed to permit passage therebetween of the flange under treatment, said rolls having approximately vertical axes, a block for supporting said rolls, a pivotal mounting for said block whereby the engaging surfaces of the rolls may be angularly adjusted to correspondingly deflect the flange being treated, uprights on the base for pivotally supporting said block therebetween, and locking means between one of the up- :rights and said block for securing the block and rolls in adjusted positions.

'7. The method of treating metallic flanged beams or the like to provide a flange on the web of .said beam disposed at varying angles to the web throughout various portions of the beam, comprising preheating the beam to render the same more susceptible to flange bending, support- ;ing the beam on the side opposite flange deflect- :ing instrumentalities, passing said beam on its .web and longitudinally of said beamwith the talities, and holding the edge portion of the beam remote to said flanged edge at a point directly in line with the flange deflecting instrumentalities and under manual pressures throughout the travel of the beam to correspondingly control the various changes in angularity of the flange relative to the web of the beam, the engagement of the flange being treated and the holding of the remote edge portion of the beam being in the same plane transversely of the beam and at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof.

8. The method of treating metallic flanged beams or the like to provide a flange on the web of said beam disposed at varying angles to the Web throughout various portions of the beam comprising supporting the beam on the side opposite flange deflecting instrumentalities, passing said beam on its web and longitudinally of said beam with the flange to be treated under engagement with the flange deflecting instrumentalities tive to the web of the beam, the engagement of the flange being treated and the holding of the remote edge portion of the beam being in the same plane transversely of the beam and at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof.

9. The method of treating metallic flanged beams or the like to provide a flange on the web of said beam disposed at varying angles to the web throughout various portions of the beam, comprising preheating the beam to render the same more susceptible to flange bending, supporting the beam on the side opposite flange deflecting instrumentalities, passing said beam on its web and longitudinally of said beam with the flange to be treated under engagement with the flange deflecting instrumentalities whereby to elevate the web of the beam under the tilting influence exerted remote edge portion of the beam being in the same plane transversely of the beam and at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof.

10. The method of treating metallic flanged beams or the like to provide a flange 0.1 the web of said beam disposed at varying angles to the web throughout various portion: of the beam comprising supporting the beam on the side opposite flange deflecting instrumentalities, passing said beam on its web and longitudinally of said beam with the flange to be treated under engagement with the flange deflecting instrumentalities whereby to-elevate the web of the beam under the tilting influence exerted thereon by the said instrumentalities, and holding the edge portion of 9 10 the beam remote to said flanged edge at a point directly in line with the deflecting instrumen- UNITED STATES PATENTS talities and under manual pressures throughout Number Name Date the travel of the beam to correspondingly con- 702,836 Weber June 17, 1902 trol the various changes in angularity of the 5 731,675 Geyer June 23, 1903 flange relative to the web of the beam, the en- 2,279,038 Gifford Apr. 7, 19421 gagement of the flange being treated and the 606,306 Shann et a1. June 28, 1898 holding of the remote edge portion of the beam 2,348,185 Bartee May 9, 1944 being in the same plane transversely of the beam 950,280 Everson Feb. 22,1910 and at right angles to the longitudinal axis there- 10 1,267,194 Eckenroth May 21, 1918 of. 1,397,271 Eckenroth Nov. 15, 1921 BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent: 

